Mulranny Village Design Statement Mulranny Village Design Statement An action of thE County MAyo HeritAgE PlAn Comhairle Contae Mhaigh Eo Mayo County Council table of Contents Foreword Foreword .....................................................................................................................................3 Section 1 introduction ...............................................................................................................................4 • introduction and background • Collaborative process • Setting the context Section 2 Mulranny now – issues and tasks ......................................................................................13 • Approaching Mulranny • the village centre • Pedestrian and traffic movement • the built environment • Signage, displayed fuels, discarded materials, bins and litter • the natural heritage and landscape • the beach and causeway Section 3 the Way Forward .....................................................................................................................24 EStAbliShing A VillAgE CEntrE • A promenade • A greenway hub • A quality built environment • Signage, displayed goods, litter etc. • traffic calming and footpaths iMProVing iMPortAnt foCAl PointS • the causeway and pedestrian routes to the sea • the school and church area • landscaping and the natural environment Section 4 Village Centre Design guidelines ........................................................................................40 • A contemporary approach • building lines and set backs • Windows and doors • building height and scale • Street roofline • Shopfronts and signage • Materials and detail • linkages and permeability • natural surveillance • landmark buildings and corner sites • landscaping Section 5 Delivering the Village Design statement ..........................................................................46 Appendix I feedback from Public Consultation ............................................................................................................... 48 Appendix II Information Sources ............................................................................................................................................... 50 2 Mulranny Village Design stateMent foreword Village Design Statements constitute an innovative collaborative and participative Mulranny has undergone profound positive change in recent times with the approach to village design, where communities have a real ‘voice’ in how their restoration and renewal of our built railway heritage. the social and economic villages are planned and managed into the future. this is the third in a series of benefits that have accrued remind us as to the significant role heritage assets Village Design Statements that have been prepared by Mayo County Council as can play in reinvigorating our village. part of the heritage Plan; Design Statements have also been prepared for belcarra this Village Design Statement marks an important continuum of that process and louisburgh. by setting out, both spatially and visually, how the village can become more Mulranny, with its distinctive identity and setting, was identified as a key village vibrant and pedestrian friendly. Equally it seeks to retain a strong sense of place for which a Design Statement was required, to ensure that future development by preserving important details and features of our built environment and is responsive to the village’s unique character and has regard to its surrounding guiding future public realm and building design. landscape and ecology. this statement represents a further milestone in progressing our vision for the Village Design Statement highlights the positive features of Mulranny and the the future, adopted in 2010, which states that; ‘Mulranny, with its beautiful precious natural environment in which it is set. the Statement aims to guide the location on the shores of Clew bay, will have preserved and enhanced its design of future development, so that it compliments Mulranny’s unique heritage natural environment, and will be a great place to live, work and visit, with an assets and includes a set of specific planning guidelines which aim to preserve and enterprising and organised community’. in this regard Mulranny Community strengthen the village community. the document will be a useful guide for residents futures wish to acknowledge the local community, landowners and businesses and developers in shaping proposals for future development within Mulranny. for volunteering their time, energy and enthusiasm to this initiative. the Design Statement recognises the important role of the local community in Collaboration and partnership are key elements of successful community determining the future for their village. the community in Mulranny, through its development and so we gratefully acknowledge the professional and financial participation in the ‘Community futures’ programme, is collectively engaged in support of Mayo County Council and the heritage Council in the preparation of shaping the form and destiny of their own place. this Village Design Statement this Village Design Statement. presents a shared vision for the future of Mulranny, and Mayo County Council Mulranny Community futures group welcomes this initiative and is confident would like to acknowledge the role of the community in the preparation of this that the Village Design Statement will become a key landmark in achieving a document and their commitment, energy and enthusiasm for the project. better and brighter future for the community in Mulranny. Mayo County Council acknowledges and appreciates the support of the heritage Council in the preparation of this Village Design Statement and their ongoing support in the implementation of the County Mayo heritage Plan. Mulranny Community Futures Peter Hynes, Mayo County Manager Cllr Austin Francis O’Malley, Cathaoirleach Mayo County Council Mulranny Village Design stateMent 3 Section 1: introduction • introduction & background • Collaborative process • Setting the context 4 Mulranny Village Design stateMent Section 1: introduction INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND National CONText this Village Design Statement for Mulranny is the third Village Design Statement that Mayo County Council has prepared in partnership with the heritage Council, and notably, the first one prepared by Mayo County Council since the external evaluation of the heritage Council’s Village Design Statement Programme 1 (2000-2008), which was completed in autumn 2008. Arising from the review, the heritage Council published a Village Design booklet in January 2009 entitled ‘Enhancing Local Distinctiveness in Irish Villages – Village Design Statements in Ireland – The Way Forward’. What is a VIllage DeSIGN StateMeNT? A Village Design Statement is a community-led, design-focused document, which describes the visual qualities and the distinctive character of a village, and provides design guidelines, which address the qualities that local residents consider worthy of protection or improvement. the purpose of a Village Design Statement is not about whether development should take place or not, but how planned development should be carried out. the aim of the Mulranny Village Design Statement is to ensure that future development and change will have regard to the unique attributes of Mulranny and its historical context and contribute positively to the future of the village. in their 2008 evaluation of the national Village Design statement Programme 1, the Heritage Council stressed that good Village Design statements can: • raise community awareness about their surrounding landscape and heritage assets; • Provide the community with a useful “tool” to ensure that future developments and changes add to local distinctiveness and character; • Link into the planning system so that planners can use them to improve the local distinctiveness of design proposals; • Assist local authority planners, architects, developers and others by giving them local guidance up front and; • Generate and develop overall community confidence and capacity building. Mulranny Village Design stateMent 5 Section 1: introduction What is the VIllage DeSIGN StateMent for? the Village Design Statement is a useful tool which can be used to identify the character of the village and to inform and advise property owners, developers and decision makers how the village of Mulranny should evolve, with emphasis on the aesthetics of the village. the Village Design Statement may be adopted by Mayo County Council as Supplementary Planning guidance, with the intention that its recommendations be taken into account when planning applications are assessed. it may also influence future planning policies in the preparation of any land use plan for the village. Who is the VIllage DeSIGN StateMent for? Change to the village is brought about not only by large developments, but also by the smaller day-to-day alterations to homes and gardens, other properties, boundaries, open spaces, paths and edges, which alter the look and feel of the whole village. therefore the Village Design Statement has been prepared to inform and assist a number of groups when considering changes/improvements to the village. Such groups include: • Statutory bodies and public authorities • Planners, developers, builders, architects, designers and engineers • local community groups • householders and businesses WHy IS A VIllage DeSIGN StateMent neeDed for MUlranny? Mulranny, with its distinctive identity and setting, has